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Journal ArticleDOI

Collocation: Integrating Child Welfare and Substance Abuse Services

21 Feb 2009-Journal of Social Work Practice in The Addictions (Taylor & Francis Group)-Vol. 9, Iss: 1, pp 55-70
TL;DR: Findings suggest that clearly defined procedures and sufficient staffing of qualified substance abuse counselors could lead to better programs.
Abstract: This article presents findings from a process evaluation of a pilot program to address parental substance abuse in the child welfare system. By placing substance abuse counselors in a local child welfare office, the collocation program was designed to facilitate early identification, timely referral to treatment, and improved treatment engagement of substance-abusing parents. Frontline child welfare workers in 6 of the 7 pilot sites endorsed the program as they found that the collocated substance abuse counselors provided additional resources and facilitated case processing. Findings suggest that clearly defined procedures and sufficient staffing of qualified substance abuse counselors could lead to better programs.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of empirical literature reveals improvements in service utilization and outcomes for women when substance abuse and child welfare services are integrated, and strategies developed provide useful guidelines for developing components of effective, evidence-based programs for substance-involved women in the child welfare system.

97 citations


Cites background from "Collocation: Integrating Child Welf..."

  • ...Whereas collocation initiatives are still early in an evaluation process, initial evaluation findings suggest that the approach can lead to increased understanding among child welfare and substance abuse staff, improved relationships among service providers, and better coordination of services for clients (Lee et al., 2009; McAlpine et al., 2001)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Preliminary outcomes from a pilot study of Multisystemic Therapy-Building Stronger Families support the viability of a more rigorous (i.e., randomized) evaluation of the MST-BSF model.

59 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of data from a national, longitudinal study of families involved with the U.S. child welfare system suggests that child welfare agency collaboration with schools has a significant effect on children's use of both school-based and outpatient mental health services.
Abstract: This article uses data from a national, longitudinal study of families involved with the U.S. child welfare system to examine how collaboration between local child welfare agencies, schools, and co...

31 citations


Cites background from "Collocation: Integrating Child Welf..."

  • ...Co-location of staff ensures that staff in different agencies are operating in the same physical space, which inherently provides staff with increased opportunities for communication and can help reduce service fragmentation (Ginsburg, 2008; Lee et al, 2009)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) as discussed by the authors is an integrated model that pairs child protective service workers with family mentors and partners with treatment providers, and the results support START as an effective integrated program.
Abstract: Families with child maltreatment and parental substance use disorders are a growing population with complex needs. The Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) is an integrated model that pairs child protective service workers with family mentors and partners with treatment providers. This is a prospective naturalistic evaluation comparing rates of adult sobriety and child placement in state custody using provider-collected data merged with state administrative data sets. All families in the served and comparison groups had equal risks to child safety. Mothers achieved sobriety at 1.8 times the rate of typical treatment; children were placed in state custody at half the rate expected. These results support START as an effective integrated program.

31 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore factors that facilitate or impede collaboration in a Canadian context and highlight the importance of examining cross-system collaboration specific to regional policy contexts, such as British Columbia's harm reduction approach to substance use and addiction.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore factors that facilitate or impede collaboration in a Canadian context. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 24 managers and direct service staff from substance use treatment and the child welfare fields in different regions of a Canadian province. Findings underscore the importance of examining cross-system collaboration specific to regional policy contexts, such as British Columbia's harm reduction approach to substance use and addiction. At the same time, many of the barriers and driving forces for collaboration found in this study echo the experiences of other countries.

23 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Age, employment status, and legal involvement were significantly associated with the likelihood of completing substance abuse treatment, and Heroin users were significantly less likely to complete treatment as compared with alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana users.
Abstract: A significant number of substance-abusing parents in the child welfare system do not complete substance abuse treatments. Consequently, their children experience longer stays in substitute care settings, and the risk of the termination of parental rights is increased. This study identifies and determines the specific factors that explain the completion of substance abuse treatment for substance-abusing caregivers in child welfare. The sample includes 871 caregivers enrolled in the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse waiver demonstration. Approximately 22% of these caregivers successfully completed all required levels of substance abuse treatment. The multivariate models indicate that age, employment status, and legal involvement were significantly associated with the likelihood of completing substance abuse treatment. Heroin users were significantly less likely to complete treatment as compared with alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana users. The findings are discussed in terms of policy and practice implications for public child welfare systems.

77 citations


"Collocation: Integrating Child Welf..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Engaging and retaining these clients in treatment has been a critical problem (Choi & Ryan, 2006; USDHHS, 1999)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: By looking closely at the types of subsequent allegations as well as the incidence ofsequent allegations, this research helps to clarify the maltreatment risks associated with SEI cases.

76 citations


"Collocation: Integrating Child Welf..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…cases involving parental substance abuse often result in recurring maltreatment allegations, longer stays in foster care, and reduced likelihood of family reunification (Ryan et al., 2006; Smith & Testa, 2002; USDHHS, 1999; U.S. Government Accounting Office, 1998; Wolock & Magura, 1996)....

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Journal Article
TL;DR: Strategies at client and organizational levels are proposed to understand the process of adaptation to ASFA and to guide planning for blending services.
Abstract: Montgomery County, Maryland's Child Welfare Services (CWS) and Adult Addiction Services (AAS) developed an initiative to address the requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) while meeting the needs of families and the community of providers. A blended model of intervention was determined to be the best strategy to achieve the dual mandates of CWS and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) providers. Drawing from criminal justice, systems theory, social work, and addiction treatment, the approach made use of graduated sanctions or levels of intensity in providing services, engaging client participation, and engendering motivation. This article proposes strategies at client and organizational levels to understand the process of adaptation to ASFA and to guide planning for blending services.

71 citations


"Collocation: Integrating Child Welf..." refers background in this paper

  • ...However, more recently, policymakers, practitioners, and scholars have come to believe that collaboration between substance abuse and child welfare systems can be more effective in engaging the parents in treatment (Colby and Murrell, 1998; Cornerstone Consulting Group, 2002; McAlpine et al., 2001; Peterson, Gable, & Saldana, 1996; Ryan et al., 2006; Semidei et al., 2001; Young & Gardner, 2002)....

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  • ...Similarly, research regarding the collocation of substance abuse specialists in child protective services (CPS) is sparse, and although encouraging regarding intermediate outcomes (McAlpine et al., 2001), remains inconclusive regarding longer term child welfare outcomes (Marsh et al....

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  • ...…between substance abuse and child welfare systems can be more effective in engaging the parents in treatment (Colby and Murrell, 1998; Cornerstone Consulting Group, 2002; McAlpine et al., 2001; Peterson, Gable, & Saldana, 1996; Ryan et al., 2006; Semidei et al., 2001; Young & Gardner, 2002)....

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  • ...Similarly, research regarding the collocation of substance abuse specialists in child protective services (CPS) is sparse, and although encouraging regarding intermediate outcomes (McAlpine et al., 2001), remains inconclusive regarding longer term child welfare outcomes (Marsh et al., 2006)....

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  • ...These policies not only place demands on substanceabusing parents to make significant life changes in relatively brief periods of time, but also place undue burdens on child welfare services to accelerate accurate assessment, referral, and case management services (McAlpine et al., 2001)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The scope of the problem, its impact on the delivery of child welfare services, and implications for service provision are evaluated.
Abstract: Maternal substance abuse has sparked an intense debate among child welfare practitioners and policymakers. What is the best way to work effectively with substance-abusing mothers, to protect children from harm that might result from the parents' addiction, and to preserve a family in which the child can be reared? Some question the ability of the child welfare system to cope with the magnitude of problems associated with maternal substance abuse, particularly illegal drug abuse (Besharov, 1989, 1990). Current child welfare policies mandate child protection within the context of family preservation, that is, keeping parents and children together whenever possible (Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980). This responsibility is difficult to carry out under the best of circumstances but becomes even more complicated when substance abuse is added as an intervening factor. Substance abuse is but one challenge facing what many consider an already stressed child welfare system (Kamerman & Kahn, 1990). A number of reports and studies on substance abuse have been conducted both by voluntary agencies and governmental bodies. Some of the information gathered to date is conflicting and difficult to compare. This article discusses and evaluates the scope of the maternal substance abuse problem, its effect on the delivery of child welfare services, obstacles to service delivery, and implications for service provision. Scope of the Problem It is widely accepted that children living with a substance-abusing parent are at higher risk for child maltreatment than other children. Many studies have found a correlation between child maltreatment and alcohol and other drug abuse (Murphy et al., 1991; Orme & Rimmer, 1981; Williams & Collins, 1986). In 1989 the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA) estimated that 9 million to 10 million children were affected by substance-abusing parents and that 675,000 children were maltreated each year by an alcoholic or drug-addicted caretaker. Among confirmed cases of child maltreatment, the estimated percentage involving substance abuse averages 40 percent nationwide (Daro & McCurdy, 1991). Local estimates of the proportion of new protective services cases involving drug use are as high as 80 percent to 90 percent (Feig, 1990). According to a 1988 study of the NCPCA, substance abuse has become the dominant characteristic in the child abuse caseloads of 22 states and the District of Columbia (Besharov, 1989). Data from a 1989 survey of 35 states conducted by the American Public Welfare Association indicated that in eight states (Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah) one out of four substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect involved parental drug abuse or alcoholism (Tatara, 1990). In New York, over 73 percent of neglect-related child fatalities in 1987 were attributed to parental alcohol and drug abuse (Besharov, 1989). Despite federal legislation promoting family preservation, the population of children in out-of-home placements has shown steady increases since 1985, with communities hardest hit by crack addiction showing the most dramatic increases (McCullough, 1991; Tatara, 1990). Even more disturbing, however, are the difficulties in achieving permanency planning for children from substance-abusing families as evidenced by low discharge rates, multiple placements, low rates of reunification with biological parents, and low rates of adoption. Several reports have documented that once children from substance-abusing families enter placement, they tend to remain in care and are less frequently reunified with their biological parents or freed for adoption compared with children placed for reasons unrelated to substance abuse (Besharov, 1990; Fanshel, 1975; Feig, 1990; Walker, Zangrillo, & Smith, 1991). This appears to be particularly the case for children from minority families. …

68 citations


"Collocation: Integrating Child Welf..." refers background in this paper

  • ...First, child welfare staff lacks the training and experience to accurately assess the extent of substance abuse problems of parents investigated for child maltreatment (Semidei et al., 2001; Tracy, 1994; Young et al., 1998)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings suggest that in the period following the ASFA legislation, mothers entered substance abuse treatment significantly more quickly after the start of their child welfare cases, and remained in treatment longer, compared to pre-ASFA.
Abstract: The passage of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), which calls for timely permanency planning for children placed into state foster care systems, has led to increased attention to the need for timely and appropriate treatment services to families with substance abuse issues who are involved with child welfare. Using statewide administrative data collected before and after the implementation of ASFA, the present study explores the influence of ASFA, as well as other family characteristics, on patterns of treatment service utilization by child-welfare involved clients. Findings suggest that in the period following the ASFA legislation, mothers entered substance abuse treatment significantly more quickly after the start of their child welfare cases, and remained in treatment longer, compared to pre-ASFA. No differences in rates of treatment completion were found. Results are interpreted in terms of the changing treatment service context, enhanced collaboration between child welfare and treatment systems, and the possible influence of the legislation on parents' motivation to enter treatment.

62 citations

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Findings suggest that clearly defined procedures and sufficient staffing of qualified substance abuse counselors could lead to better programs.